David Artell has held important talks with his team of scouts to draw up recruitment plans for next season at Crewe Alex.

The manager, appointed last month, wants to give the club’s talent spotters more guidance and responsibility in a bid to improve the club’s patchy record in signing players.

While he still has a job on to ensure the Alex remain a Football League club, Artell intends to give his backroom team a clear picture of what he is looking for and the time to make sure they get it.

Artell would not be drawn on what exactly the team of five scouts – led by Neil Baker – will be asked to look for, but the Chronicle understands experienced, proven players down the spine of the team will be a key part of criteria.

He said: “If the scouts know what I want and what the team needs, we’ll then have three months to look while people we want are still playing matches.

“We can analyse players so we are in a better position. It reduces mistakes, the key to recruitment is getting more right than wrong.

“It’s not an exact science, we have to try to plan better and search smarter.

“They (scouts) have to have guidance and leadership from me, but I want ownership from them. As opposed to them just saying ‘I think he’s all right’ I want to know if they’d put their neck on the line and sign him.

“How many times have you watched him? Have you done any research on him? Have you made any phone calls? Who do you know who knows him? What’s his injury record? How many games has he played?

“We have some great scouts so we need a targeted approach. The summer is a great opportunity.

“It is all about unity, and them being part of the team. We have to make sure our recruitment process is as good as our resources and ability affords us.”

While Crewe have had regular success in the loan market in recent years, many of the permanent signings – many recommended by agents rather than scouts – have fallen flat.

The likes of Scott Shearer, Lee Molyneux, Thierry Audel, Chris Atkinson and Davis Fox did not have to desired impact during difficult years and, with limited resources, the Alex need to spend more wisely.

There appears to have been little progress made, however, in the search for an out-of-contract striker to help in the 2016-17 run-in.